I was surprised when I first read this scene because this scene shows how Macbeth had changed his mind into killing Duncan. Duncan regards him as a trustworthy man and he is in his home to celebrate Macbeth's victory in previous war. The fact that how Macbeth ignored Duncan's thoughts towards him, particularly shocked me. I believe that this one of the most important scenes in the play.
What do you think are the key purposes of your scene? In other words, what is this scene important?
This scene is important because this is the scene that shows us, the reader, why and how Macbeth determines his mind to kill Duncan. This is the section that tells us the real motivation of Macbeth's deed, greed. In addition, Lady Macbeth shows the manly hood. For instance, it is she who spurs and provokes Macbeth into killing Duncan. This is important because we see how the gender roles are changed because Lady Macbeth taunts, threatens and leads Macbeth in to killing Duncan.
What happens in your scene? Out line the basic events.
Duncan and Banquo arrives and are greatly joined by Lady Macbeth. She makes them comfortable. Moreover, Macbeth finally determines and sets his mind to murder Duncan, his king. However, in the beginning of the scene, he vacillates whether he should murder Duncan or not because he fears for failure of the plan, and believes it is morally wrong. For instance, Duncan regards him as a trustworthy man.In addition, he already starts to feel guilty. At that time, Lady Macbeth comes in and strongly convinces him to kill Duncan. She gives him advice, plans and stimulation to successfully kill Duncan.
Character Report
No matter how big or small the art, every actor needs to know the answers to the following questions for his/her character. Answer the following questions for the character you will play.
What does your character want in this scene (this is the objective)?
Macbeth: His main objective, particularly at the end, is to kill Duncan and attain the ultimate power.
Banquo: He just wants his majesty to enjoy staying at Lady Macbeth’s home.
What is your character's motivation for doing what he or she does?
Macbeth: The motivations are a great ambition, greed, and avarice to attain the king's power.
His inherent avarice was exacerbated after he heard the prophecy from the three witches. He believes that by killing the king, he would successfully attain the ultimate power that he desired. In this scene, Macbeth’s determination wavers regarding Duncan’s murder because he fears both failure and retribution. Lady Macbeth urges him to commit treason and murder by taunting Macbeth’s manhood, which infuses him with courage and makes him want to prove his bravery to Lady Macbeth.
Banquo: The reason for his objective is that he is loyal to Duncan and wants Duncan to be safe because he is a king and Banquo revers him.
What obstacles stand in his or her way?
Macbeth: The obstacles that stand in his way are guilt over betraying his loyalty to the king and his fear of failure and getting caught. In addition, Banquo stands in his way because not only was he there when Macbeth heard the prophesy, but he is a trustworthy servant to Duncan.
Banquo: The obstacle is Macbeth's wanting to steal the king's power by killing Duncan.
What happens when your character confronts these obstacles?
Macbeth: At first, he struggles consciously because he feels guilty for betraying Duncan, his king, and Banquo, his dearest friend. However, Lady Macbeth incites him to mercilessly kill them. When Macbeth becomes anxious about his deed, Lady Macbeth ameliorates him to make him calm.
Banquo: He fails to protect Duncan. Also, he isn't perfectly sure who the murder is.
Are there any distinctive elements in your character's way of speaking? (Is his or her language elaborate, plain, musical, or what?)
Macbeth: When Macbeth speaks, his language is not as much elaborated than those of Lady Macbeth. I believe that his way of speaking is rather plain and structured because he seems to be saying his thoughts out loud. His soliloquy contains anxiety and worry. He repeats some of his words frequently. “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.”( act1,7) Also, he uses several strong images. “And Pity, like a naked newborn babe striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubim…” ( act1,7) At the end when he sets his mind, his speech contains rhyme. And his tone is strong.
Banquo: His language is elaborated when he describes the weather in Lady Macbeth's home. His language is very descriptive and imagery.
What is your character thinking during the scene (this is the subtext)? (How does he or she react to other characters and events?)
Macbeth: During this scene, he vacillates as to whether he should kill Duncan or not because he worries about failure but wants power. In the beginning, he wasn't sure what to do. Nonetheless, Lady Macbeth strongly urges him to deal with things like a man. Later, at the end of the scene, he finally makes up his mind to kill Duncan, persuaded by Lady Macbeth.He seems rather a little submissive to Lady Macbeth.
Banquo: He is thinking that the weather is beautiful. He also wants to protect Duncan.
Scene Reflection
Student Reflection: Please answer the following questions on your AC page below:
1. Evaluate the performance of your group. What went well? What didn’t go well?
In my opinion, our performance went quite well. It could have been better if we had more crops. Also,I think that we should have planned the movement and practiced it before.
2. How well did you contribute to your group?
I think that I contributed well and actively to my group. For example, I planned the stage scenes. I, sometimes, helped the other actors with their tones and gestures.
3. How well did you perform as an individual?
I believe that I played fairly well acting as Macbeth. I tried my best to sound like more Macbeth and be like Macbeth. Particularly the soliloquy part was most difficult for me to act out.
4. What could have improved your scene performance?
I think that I could have been more dramatic in my scene performances although there was a soliloquy. Also, it could have been better if we used different kinds of crops.
5. How did the scene performance help you better understand the play.
By acting out and reading the play lines, I was more able to understand the Macbeth’s thinking. Before the play, I just read his lines without thinking what would he be like in real life. However, after I played his part, I comprehended the play a lot deeply.
Scene 1.6-7
Macbeth,
Banquo
Scene Analysis
What are your reactions to this scene?
I was surprised when I first read this scene because this scene shows how Macbeth had changed his mind into killing Duncan. Duncan regards him as a trustworthy man and he is in his home to celebrate Macbeth's victory in previous war. The fact that how Macbeth ignored Duncan's thoughts towards him, particularly shocked me. I believe that this one of the most important scenes in the play.
What do you think are the key purposes of your scene? In other words, what is this scene important?
This scene is important because this is the scene that shows us, the reader, why and how Macbeth determines his mind to kill Duncan. This is the section that tells us the real motivation of Macbeth's deed, greed. In addition, Lady Macbeth shows the manly hood. For instance, it is she who spurs and provokes Macbeth into killing Duncan. This is important because we see how the gender roles are changed because Lady Macbeth taunts, threatens and leads Macbeth in to killing Duncan.
What happens in your scene? Out line the basic events.
Duncan and Banquo arrives and are greatly joined by Lady Macbeth. She makes them comfortable. Moreover, Macbeth finally determines and sets his mind to murder Duncan, his king. However, in the beginning of the scene, he vacillates whether he should murder Duncan or not because he fears for failure of the plan, and believes it is morally wrong. For instance, Duncan regards him as a trustworthy man.In addition, he already starts to feel guilty. At that time, Lady Macbeth comes in and strongly convinces him to kill Duncan. She gives him advice, plans and stimulation to successfully kill Duncan.
Character Report
No matter how big or small the art, every actor needs to know the answers to the following questions for his/her character. Answer the following questions for the character you will play.
Macbeth: His main objective, particularly at the end, is to kill Duncan and attain the ultimate power.
Banquo: He just wants his majesty to enjoy staying at Lady Macbeth’s home.
Macbeth: The motivations are a great ambition, greed, and avarice to attain the king's power.
His inherent avarice was exacerbated after he heard the prophecy from the three witches. He believes that by killing the king, he would successfully attain the ultimate power that he desired. In this scene, Macbeth’s determination wavers regarding Duncan’s murder because he fears both failure and retribution. Lady Macbeth urges him to commit treason and murder by taunting Macbeth’s manhood, which infuses him with courage and makes him want to prove his bravery to Lady Macbeth.
Banquo: The reason for his objective is that he is loyal to Duncan and wants Duncan to be safe because he is a king and Banquo revers him.
Macbeth: The obstacles that stand in his way are guilt over betraying his loyalty to the king and his fear of failure and getting caught. In addition, Banquo stands in his way because not only was he there when Macbeth heard the prophesy, but he is a trustworthy servant to Duncan.
Banquo: The obstacle is Macbeth's wanting to steal the king's power by killing Duncan.
Macbeth: At first, he struggles consciously because he feels guilty for betraying Duncan, his king, and Banquo, his dearest friend. However, Lady Macbeth incites him to mercilessly kill them. When Macbeth becomes anxious about his deed, Lady Macbeth ameliorates him to make him calm.
Banquo: He fails to protect Duncan. Also, he isn't perfectly sure who the murder is.
Macbeth: When Macbeth speaks, his language is not as much elaborated than those of Lady Macbeth. I believe that his way of speaking is rather plain and structured because he seems to be saying his thoughts out loud. His soliloquy contains anxiety and worry. He repeats some of his words frequently. “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.”( act1,7) Also, he uses several strong images. “And Pity, like a naked newborn babe striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubim…” ( act1,7) At the end when he sets his mind, his speech contains rhyme. And his tone is strong.
Banquo: His language is elaborated when he describes the weather in Lady Macbeth's home. His language is very descriptive and imagery.
Macbeth: During this scene, he vacillates as to whether he should kill Duncan or not because he worries about failure but wants power. In the beginning, he wasn't sure what to do. Nonetheless, Lady Macbeth strongly urges him to deal with things like a man. Later, at the end of the scene, he finally makes up his mind to kill Duncan, persuaded by Lady Macbeth.He seems rather a little submissive to Lady Macbeth.
Banquo: He is thinking that the weather is beautiful. He also wants to protect Duncan.
Scene Reflection
Student Reflection: Please answer the following questions on your AC page below:
1. Evaluate the performance of your group. What went well? What didn’t go well?
In my opinion, our performance went quite well. It could have been better if we had more crops. Also,I think that we should have planned the movement and practiced it before.
2. How well did you contribute to your group?
I think that I contributed well and actively to my group. For example, I planned the stage scenes. I, sometimes, helped the other actors with their tones and gestures.
3. How well did you perform as an individual?
I believe that I played fairly well acting as Macbeth. I tried my best to sound like more Macbeth and be like Macbeth. Particularly the soliloquy part was most difficult for me to act out.
4. What could have improved your scene performance?
I think that I could have been more dramatic in my scene performances although there was a soliloquy. Also, it could have been better if we used different kinds of crops.
5. How did the scene performance help you better understand the play.
By acting out and reading the play lines, I was more able to understand the Macbeth’s thinking. Before the play, I just read his lines without thinking what would he be like in real life. However, after I played his part, I comprehended the play a lot deeply.